Automated devices to grow and transplant seedlings

Transplanting seedlings is important in agriculture. Automating activities involved in transforming seeds or plant materials into transplanted seedlings can help reduce costs. Research activities related to automating procedures are discussed: containers to grow and ship seedlings, which facilitate automation; short, sturdy seedlings for machine handling; and experimental machines including a seedling detector, a seedling sorter and a field transplanter. Future developments may include more computers and electronics on transplanters, self-monitoring transplanters and specialized autonomous vehicles comprising the field transplanting system